There is no evidence to suggest that SARS is an
airborne virus, the World Health Organization said Monday in a report that also
found health workers to be at special risk and children rarely affected.

The report, summarizing international research
on severe acute respiratory syndrome, concluded that at all outbreak sites, the
main route of transmission was direct contact, via the eyes, nose and mouth,
with infectious respiratory droplets.

"The finding that each patient infected on
average three others is consistent with a disease spread by direct contact with
virus-laden droplets rather than with airborne particles," WHO said, noting
that in airborne diseases such as influenza or measles, one person can infect an
entire room by coughing.

SARS, first detected in China in November 2002,
killed 774 people worldwide out of nearly 8,100 sickened, according to WHO
figures.

The report said health workers accounted for 21
percent of all cases. In some cases, transmission occurred even though they were
wearing masks, eye protection, gowns and gloves.

The risk of a person transmitting the disease is
greatest at around day 10 of the illness, when a maximum virus excretion from
the respiratory tract occurs, then declines, the report said.

On the other hand, research found no evidence
that patients transmit the infection 10 days after fever has subsided.

The report said children are rarely affected,
with only two reported cases of transmission from children to adults and no
reports of transmission from children to other children. No evidence has been
found to show SARS transmission in schools, or in infants whose mothers were
infected during pregnancy.

Research also showed that five international
flights have been associated with the transmission of the disease, but found no
evidence of transmission on flights after the March 27 travel advisory in which
WHO recommended exit screening and other measures.

The report was released at the start of four
consecutive SARS meetings being hosted in Geneva by the WHO starting Monday
through Nov. 1, which will address priorities for scientific research,
laboratory issues, clinical treatment protocols, and prospects for vaccine
development.

SARS shaved about US$18 billion from Asia's
combined gross domestic product and cost Asian economies nearly US$60 billion in
lost demand and revenues, according to the Asian Development Bank. The GDP cost
alone equaled about US$2 million for each person infected, the bank said.abs-cbnNEWS.com monitor